Sweet Liberia: Finding My Way Back Home: Misc Thougts

Band playing covers in Royal Hotel

Today was another busy one. We got to the office (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) early and got to work. Basically worked all day but I got to get out briefly to head to the Ministry of Gender. I got to see UN Drive and the Executive Mansion and Capital Building. Still haven't made it downtown yet but we hope to go out this weekend sometime. Last night we worked in the lounge of Royal Hotel again. Tonight, it was packed with so-so Americans. There was also some American band doing covers. It was odd to hear and see. Entering the fenced in place takes you into a more "Western" world. I guess the Americans love that about places like that. I am recognizing more places but it's hard b/c the city is so crowded and many houses that I might recognize are hidden behind huge fences with razor wire. My hope is that someday, the country will be safe enough to lower the fences a few feet so that we can see the architectural beauty of our country.

I can smell the ocean from Sinkor and I can't wait to go to the beach!!! I was just telling a friend, one of my major concerns was to see whether I could actually live in Liberia once I came back. I believe I can!! I really could see myself living here, though it is extremely expensive...more so than the cost of living in DC. An American volunteer here told me that a box of cereal is $8 USD! But all we've eaten is Liberian food which is cheap and GREAT! I ate torbohgee, potato greens and today dry rice and fried fish.

Also, some new LIB lingo: my friend heard this...they needed air in the tire and the guy bent over and said "something embarrassing the hood." I also heard another person today say, " this guy keeps calling me and embarrassing my phone." TOO FUNNY! It's now 8 pm and we're still at the office, so there is def work work work to be done. We're about to head home then back to the hotel lounge to do more work!